Transfer-punching apparatus.



B. M. SHEANKLIN'.

TRANSFER PUNCHING APPARATUS..

APPLICATION FILED, JUNE 12. 1916,

1,254, 1 64. Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- v IN V EN TOR.

flfiymZ/ZJMMZ.

Y Wwwd A TTORNE Y.

B. M. SBANKLIN.

TRANSFER PUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man IUNE :2. 19I6.

Patented Jan. 22,

S H E E T 3 SHEETS- m ma A TTORNE Y.

B. M. SHANKLIN.

TRANSFER PUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1916.

1,254, 1 64. Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- WITNESS A TTOR NE Y.

\ BENJAMIN M. SHANKLIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAN SFER-PUN CHIN G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 12, 1918. Serial No. 103,222.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I BENJAMIN M. SHANE- LIN, a citizen of the ilnited States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transfer-Punching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in transfer punching apparatus and particularly to apparatus which is arranged to contain and operate upon a roll of transfers in continuous strip form. More particularly,-

the invention relates to an improvement in the structure shown in my prior Patent No. 1,127,814, issued February 9, 1915.

An object of the invention is to provide in a device of the class described groups of punches to perforate the month, day, hour, and minute designations of a transfer strip, a selector and punch actuating member for each of said groups arranged to be moved to overlie any desired punch of a group, and a plate arranged to engage and simultaneously depress the several actuating members, whereby the selected punches may be actuated in unison from a single means.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the class described improved. means to position the transfer strlp beneath the punching mechanism and to lock it when thus positioned as well as to prevent rotation of the transfer roll, together with a device arranged adjacent the delivery end of the apparatus to release said means, said device being characterized in that it is operable conveniently at the same time that the strip is withdrawn and without appreciable extra effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a transfer punching apparatus a bed plate having a channel through which the transfer stri is arranged to pass, a casing at one end 0 the plate, means in the casing to removably support the transfer roll, punching mechanism insertible on and removable from said plate as a unit, and means to position and removably secure the mechanism to the bed plate.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the type specified, generally improved and simplified mechanical structure.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description to follow and in the annexed claims.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

For the purpose of illustrating one way in which the invention may be practised, a single preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the punch- 1n evice; ig. 2 is a top plan view of the upper plate of the punching device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fi +1 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the strip for use with the punching device;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the punching device taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a partial side elevation of the device with parts broken away; and

Figs 9 and 10 are plan and side elevational views, respectively, of the ratchet wheel and its supporting plate.

Referring to these drawings, the improved apparatus comprises, in general, a device to receive transfers in continuous strip form, punching mechanism beneath which the strip may be drawn from said device, means to automatically position the strip in correct alinement with the punching mechanism, and devices to release said means to permit a punched strip to be withdrawn and an unpunched strip to .be positioned beneath the punching mechanism. The punching mechanism itself is subdivided into a plurality of separately operable destination punches; groups of punches for the month, day, hour, minute etc, there being a punch for each unit of & each group which may be moved over any desired punch; and means to actuate the several selectors i in unison to depress the several selected punches.

The general frame structure of the apparatus will first be described with particular reference to Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 8. Fixed to the top of a base 2 is a thin plate 6 which is of less width than the base, as shown in Fig. 7. Secured to plate 6 at the rear thereof by the screws and brackets shown in each group; a selector device for Fig. 8 is a casing 1 having upstanding side lates and a rear plate but being open at its orward end. Casing 1 is adapted to contain the transfers in roll form as will later appear, and a cover 5 is hinged to casing 1,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, to permit access to the interior thereof. The punching mechanism is mounted in three spaced parallel plates 23, 24, and 25, and the upper and lower plates 23 and 25 are fastened by screws, as indicated in Fig. 7, to upright posts 26 which are arranged one at each corner of the mechanism. The latter is inclosed by two vertical side plates 7 which, as indicated in Fig. 7, are screwed to posts 26 and, as shown in Fig. 8, are adapted to abut with and form virtual extensions of the side walls of easing 1. Fixed in plate 6 are a number of vertical dowel pins 60 which are adapted to enter suitable recesses in lower plate 25 to position the latter and the punching mechanism. To hold the latter upon plate 6 and base 2, spring fingers 61 are fastened to the latter and extend upwardly having buttons 62 adapted to engage in openings in side plates 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. It will thus be seen that the punching mechanism may be quickly and conveniently removed from the base plate, and this removable feature is of advantage since it permits access to the transfer strip which is movable beneath the punching mechanism as will be described.

The transfers in a continuous strip are wound into a roll 4, and the latter is removably supported within casing 1 by means which will now be-described. A stud 3 is riveted to a plate 63 (Figs. 9 and 10) and rotatable on the stud but held from axial movement by the screw shown in Fig. 10 is a ratchet 14. The stud protrudes beyond the ratchet and on each side are projections 64 from the ratchet. The stud and projections are arranged to engage in the core of roll 4, as indicated in Fig. 1. Plate 63 is dovetailed intoplates secured to one side wall of easing 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 1,

so that it, together with the ratchet, may

be conveniently inserted in and removed from the casing. A round stud 3, adapted to engage the other end of the ,core, is riveted to a door 65 hinged to the other side wall of casing 1, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This structure permits the core of roll 4 to be first slipped upon stud 3 and projections 64 while the plate is raised in its guides so as to be conveniently accessible after which plate 63 is pushed down and door 65 is swung into place so that stud 3 rests in the other end of the core. whereby roll 4 may be rotatably supported. A pivoted arm 66 (Fig. 8) is arranged to engage between door 65 and a strip 67 fixed thereto to hold the door in closed position.

The transfer strip from roll 4 is led forwardly therefrom in a channel 6 formed in the upper face of plate 6 after which the punching mechanism may be placed on plate 6 as already described. A pocket is provided under plate 6, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7 to receive the disks of paper punched from the transfer. tively large capacity and has a convenient means of emptying it not shown. In order to cause the strip to be accurately positioned with respect to the punching mechanism, automatic devices are provided which directly engage the strip and when the latter is properly positioned to positively lock the strip in such position as well as to lock roll 4 against rotation. Pivotally mounted on a shaft 8 in casing 1 is a lever 9 which is forked around roll 4, as shown in Fig. 1, and has depending centrally from its forward end a roll 10 (Fig. 3). Also fixed on shaft 8 is an arm 11 which is connected by a This pocket is of relaspring 12 to casing 1, as best shown in Fig.

3. Lever 9 has on one side thereof an upstanding pawl arm 13 which, by reason of spring 12, is normally thrown into engagement with a ratchet wheel 14 fixedly connected as described with the core of roll 4. The strip adapted for use with this apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 6, and, as there shown, each transfer unit has a perforation 15 therein. Now, as the strip is moved forward in channel 6, roll 10 rides upon its upper surface, and the result is that arm 13 is thrown out of engagement with ratchet wheel 14 So that the strip may be drawn freely from roll 4. However, when the strip comes into proper position so that the printed designations thereon aline accurately with the respective punches, the perforation 15 in the strip comes in under roll 10. The latter, as it drops therein, throws arm 18 into engagement with ratchet 14 and pre vents further unwinding of the strip from roll 4. The roll 4 is thus positively locked and it will be obvious that the strip itself is also positively locked and held in its moved position by the direct engagement of the roll 10 in the perforation 15. It is also to be noted that the plate 6, which forms a wall of the passage 6, operates to back up and support the strip while acted upon by the roll 10. Thus, the possibility of puncturing the paper by the pressure of roll 10 on the strip is effectively guarded against and injury to the strip, which might otherwise occur were the backing means omitted, is prevented.

After the strip so positioned has been punched by means later to be described, it becomes necessary to lift roll 10 in order to permit the punched portion of the strip to, be withdrawn and a succeeding unpunched portion to be moved in under the punching mechanism by the withdrawal of the punched portion. The forward end of a transfer unit when properly positioned beneath the unching mechanism directly overlies the orward (left hand as viewed in Fig. 1) end of plate 6 so that access may always be had to a portion of the strip whereby it may be manually withdrawn. Loosely pivoted at 17 is a lever 18 which has at one end a relatively large finger piece 19 overlying the channel 6, as shown in Fig. 1. The other end of lever 18 has a portion 20 (Figs. 1 and 3) which extends rearwardly to and underlies the lever 9. Finger piece 19 is adapted to be depressed to raise lever 9 and thus remove roll 10 from the perforation 15, and it is to be noted that by the construction and location of the finger piece the latter may be conveniently actuated at the same time that the strip is withdrawn. Thus, a slight pressure with the thumb on the finger piece 19 releases the strip which may then be readily withdrawn by one of the other fingers of the same hand cotiperating with the thumb as the latter slides off of plate 19. This arrangement is of particular importance because of its convenience during rush hours in trolley service.

The punching mechanism will now be described. The lntermediate plate 24 of the punching mechanism is slidable vertically upon a central stud 27 (Fig. 4) and may be depremed against the tension of a spring 22 by a lever 28 which is pivoted at 29 to plate 23 and has its operating portion extended above the latter for convenient actuation.

Lever 28 has its lower end formed with a suitable cam 30 to engage plate 24, and it is to be noted particularly that the engagement of cam 30 with plate 24 occurs at a point closely adjacent the support 27 and substantially centrally with relation to plate 24 so that a very small bending moment is exerted on the stud. The practical result of the central engagement of cam 30 with plate 24 is that the several punches, op erable bydepression of the plate, are actuated'with equal force, inasmuch as the plate 24 is not tiltable when depressed by the cam.

The destination punches, indicated by reference numerals 31, are grouped in the central portion of plate 23 and on either side of lever 28, as shown in Fig. 1. Each punch 31 has a slidable engagement with each of the three plates 23, 24, and 25, as shown in Fig. 4. Springs 32 serve to hold the punches 30 in the normal position shown wherein flanges 33 abut the under face of plate 23 but by pressure on the finger pieces the lower portions of the punches may be forced below plate 25 through the strip in channel 6 and into suitable alined holes in the plate 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen from Fig. 4 that the several punches 31 are arranged for separate operation independently of the intermediate plate 24.

The remaining punches of theapparatus are arranged for actuation on depression of plate 24 and com rise five groups. Each group has a mova le selector, whereby any desired punch in a group may be connected for actuation by plate 24. In Fig. 1, which best shows the arrangement of the selectors, 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be considered'by way of example as controlling the month, day, hour, and minute group of punches, respectively. A fifth selector 39 controls either of two punches which perforate the A. M. or P. M. printed designation on the transfer strip. The day group, since it comprises a relatively large number of punches, has three selectors, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of convenient operation. The exact arrangement and number of punches is, of course, variable depending on given conditions. For example, another group of punches and a selector might be added to designate the number of persons to ride on one transfer and .thus save the work of giving individual transfers in every instance.

Since each selector and its associated group of punches are essentially similar, only one will be described, and the selector 35 and the month group of punches is chosen as a representative example. The plate 23 is formed, as shown in Fig. 2, with an open channel 40 and on either side thereof and at right angles thereto are a plurality of slots 41. It is to be understood that plate 24 is also provided with slots corresponding to slots 40 and 41, and the plates 23 and 24 are similar except that plate 23 has a shallow rectangular recess 42 in which a thin rectangular plate 43 of spring material is slidable (Figs. 1 and 5). Plate 43 has three slots 44 arranged transversely with relation to channel 40 which slots may register with any three opposite pairs of slots 41, as shown in Fig. 1. Below plate 23 is a sleeve 45 which has connected thereto two spaced pins 46 and a central threaded stud 47 which stud and pins are arranged to ride in the slots 44. A plate 48 has openings to receive pins 46 and stud 47 and is arranged above spring plate 43, as best shown in Fig. 5, and the plates 43 and 48 may be forced against plate 23 by a knurled nut threaded upon stud 47, whereby sleeve 45 may be securely held in its moved position. Slidable in the lower end of sleeve 45 against the tension of a spring 50 is a punch actuating member 51 which is slidably mounted in plate 24 and has fixed thereto a collar 52 normally held against the under surface of-plate 24 by spring 50. In vertical alinement with the ends of slots 41 (excepting the four end slots) are punches 53. The latter are slidable in plate 25 and extend thereabove nearly to the bottom of the actuating member 51, as shown in Fig. 5. Springs 54 normally hold the punches 53 retracted, as shown in Fig. 4, but permit depression of the punches through the transfer strip and into perforations in plate 6.

In operation, the strip from roll 4 is drawn forwardly until roll 10 drops into the perforation 15. The selectors 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39, if not already positioned as desired, are moved to select the desired punches. The operator then depresses the desired destination punch 31 and next the lever 28 which latter moves plate 24 downwardly and, by engagement. with collars, 52, forces the punch actuating members 51 against the previously selected punches 53. Thus, one punch 53 of each group is simultaneously depressed to perforate the transfer stri If will be appreciated that the punches in the selector operated groups are infrequently changed while the destination stop selected depends wholly upon the will of the passenger: Thus, the punch selected for the desired month will not need to be changed for a month, and the punch for the day needs setting but once a day and so on. No one of the selectors needs to be set oftener than every fifteen minutes and only one at such frequent intervals. It is desirable then to actuate all but the destination punches simultaneously, and the latter have been purposely made separately operable on account of the frequent hange necessary. For example, it is much easier and more convenient simply to pick out and then depress the desired destination punch than it would be to set the selector as frequently as would be necessary. With the present construction, the operator having his selectors all properly set, can issue transfers at an extremely rapid rate for he simply has the destination punch and lever 28 to actuate after which he pulls out the strip, tears it off, and hands it to the customer.

The withdrawal of one transfer strip leads a succeeding strip beneath the punching mechanism until the strip is entirely unwound from its core. It then becomes necessary to insert a new roll 4 and lead the forward end of the strip therefrom beneath the punches. By means of the cover 5 and movable studs 3 and 3, the insertion of a fresh roll of transfers is made easy and on account of the conveniently removable punching mechanism, the transfer strip may be led forward in channel 6 without difli culty after which the punching mechanism is slipped into place upon plate 6 and the normal operation is resumed.

The invention has been described in a preferred form for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing detailed description.

What I claim is- 1. In a transfer punching device, upper, lower, and intermediate spaced plates, a post connecting the upper and lower plates, the intermediate plate being slidably mounted on said post, a plurality of groups of punches mounted in the lower plate, a selector device for each of said groups adjustably mounted in the upper plate, punch actuatin members yieldingly connected to said devices and extending through the intermediate plate, each of said members being adapted to be moved by its selector device to overlie any desired punch in its group and having a part arranged to be engaged by said intermediate plate, a lever operated cam arranged to engage the intermediate plate closely adjacent said post, whereby said plate and the punch actuating members may be simultaneously depressed to actuate the selected punch of each group and means to restore said intermediate plate to normal position.

2. In a transfer punching device, upper, lower, and intermediate spaced plates, means connecting the upper and lower plates, the intermediate plate being slidable on said means, a plurality of groups of day, month, and time punches mounted in the lower plate, a selector device for each of said groups adjustably mounted in the upper plate, punch actuating members yieldingly connected to said devices and extending through said intermediate plate, each of said members adapted to be moved by its selector device to overlie any desired punch in its group and having a part thereon engageable with the under side of the intermediate plate, a lever operated cam adapted to engage and depress the intermediate plate, a plurality of destination punches slidably mounted in each of said plates, each thereof adapted for manual actuation independently of said plate and groups of punches, all constructed and arranged for the selection and separate depression of the desired destination punch and for the subsequent simultaneous actuation of the selected day, month, and time punches.

3. In a strip punching device, a casing having means at one end to receive the strip in roll form and a channel extending to the other end thereof through which the strip may be drawn, punching mechanism mounted above said channel leaving the forward end of the channel exposed whereby the strip may be pulled through the channel, and means to positively engage and arrest said strip when it comes into correct alinement with said mechanism, said means comprising a pivoted lever, a roll thereon normally arranged to ride on the upper surface of the strip and adapted to drop through a perforation in the strip to stop the latter, and a second pivoted lever overlying the exposed portion of the channel and having a part extending rearwardly to underlie the roll carrying lever, all constructed and arranged so that the strip may be accurately positioned beneath the punching mechanism and so that the strip may be conveniently released by the last-named lever and withdrawn from the'delivery end of the casing.

thereon adapted to ride on the surface of.

the strip in the channel and when the strip is properly positioned beneath the punching mechanism to drop through a perforation in the strip to prevent further advance of the latter, a ratchet on said shaft, said lever having a part adapted to engage the ratchet when the roll falls into the perforation to lock the shaft against rotation, and means to lift the roll and release the ratchet, comprising a lever pivoted at the delivery end of the casing above said channel, and having a part extending rearwardly to underlie the first named lever, all constructed and arranged so that the strip may be released and withdrawn conveniently from the delivery end of the casing.

5. In a punching device, upper, lower, and intermediate plates, the last named plate being depressible, groups of punches mounted in the lower plate, a selector device for each group adjustably mounted in the upper plate, .a punch actuating member yieldingly connected with each selector and extending through the intermediate plate, each of said members having a part adapted to be engaged by the latter and adapted to be moved by its selector to overlie any desired punch in its group, a sleeve to receive'the actuating member, a stud on said sleeve arranged to ride in slots in the upper plate. a spring plate slidable in a recess formed in the latter and having an opening to receive the stud, and means on the stud to compress the spring plate against the upper plate and draw the sleeve against the latter, all constructed and arranged so that the sleeve is held securely in its moved position.

6. In a transfer punching device. a base plate formed with a channel through which the transfer strip is arranged to pass, a casing fixed to the plate, devices mounted in the casing to removably support a roll of transfers, punching mechanism resting upon the plate forwardly of the casing and arranged to close the upper face of the channel, means to position said mechanism upon the plate, and devices to detachably hold the mechanism upon the plate, all constructed and arranged so that the mechanism may be readily detached to permit the trans fer strip to be led through said channel, when desired.

7. In a transfer punching device, a casing adapted to contain a roll of transfers, punching mechanism beneath which a strip from said roll is arranged to pass, a cover for said casing and means to removably and rotatably support the roll in the casing, said means comprising axially alined studs adapted to engage in the opposite end faces of the roll, .a hinged door in the casing to which one of the studs is fixed, a slide on which the other stud is mounted, said slide being arranged for vertical withdrawal when the cover is open, and latching means to hold the door in closed position, all constructed and arranged so that by opening the door and lifting the slide, a roll of transfers may be inserted in or removed from the casing.

8. In a strip punching device, a casing having means to receive the strip and a passage through which the strip may be passed. punching mechanism mounted adjacent said passage, means to lock the strip when it be comes properly positioned relatively to said mechanism, and means forming a wall of said passage and constructed as .a backing for said strip to prevent damage to the latter when engaged by said locking means.

9. A strip punching device. comprising, a casing having means to receive the strip and a passage through which the latter may be passed, punching mechanism mounted adjacent said passage. means controlled by the position of the strip in said passage and operable when the strip comes into proper position with relation to the punching mechanism to positively lock the strip against -further movement, and means forming a wall of said passage and constructed as a backing for said strip to prevent damage to the latter when engaged by said locking means.

10. In a strip punching device, a punching mechanism comprising a plurality of groups of punches, selector members operable to connect any desired punch of each group for actuation, a depressible member operable to simultaneously actuate the selected punches. and means engageable substantially centrally with said depressible member to depress the latter uniformly without tilting. whereby the several punches are actuated with an equal force.

BENJAMIN M. SHANKLIN. 

